Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the
world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to
over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a
wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history,
humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced
features available, you will need to register first. Registration is
absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

The ability to go safely to the ground is one of the most important skills of self-defense. It is essential for students of Aikido, who spend half their practice time being thrown forcefully to the mat.
On this video, Donovan Waite Sensei demonstrates his own system of falling - a system based on seven techniques ranging from standard Aikido rolls to knee-saving side falls and spectacular back drops. In all these falls, Waite Sensei meets the mat softly, not with percussion. After illustrating and discussing the details of the seven falls, Waite Sensei offers progressively structured exercises that allow students of all levels to move toward mastery of falling safely and at their own rates. A large step forward in the development of falling technique, the system presented here should interest students of Aikido, people in other martial arts, and others concerned with developing a friendly relationship to the ground.

I have been studying Aikido and have heard alot about Waite Sensei, so I was very eager to watch the video. I found that the quality of the video was excellent as well as the presentation. Waite Sensie explained all techniques in a methodical manner and used good examples on how to incorporate the rolls with and without an uke. He is very easy to follow and some of the kaitens (rolls) were awesome. While watching the video, Waite Sensie is very conciese of lifting his hakima so you can see his legs and feet movements. This type of ukemi is different from my current practice but it offers alot. I was even trying to do the kaitens in my basement to see if they would be easy to apply and they were. This is a professionally completed video and should be in every Aikidoists library.I even purchased his second video as well.

Clearly explains how to do basic ukemi up to more advanced ukemi. Very complementary to ukemi practiced in my dojo which is a USAF-East region dojo.

Cons:

I really enjoy Donovan Waite\'s non-intimidating approach to ukemi. This video provides the practitioner an alternate means of practicing ukemi beyond hard breakfalls. For a long time I was afraid of breakfalling and ukemi in general, but this video provided me the tools to continue practicing techniques in a safe manner. Also, Waite Sensei\'s video can help the practitioner to work out problem areas in their ukemi. I used this video to help me figure out problems with my backward rolls, and now I\'m a backroll nut.

------------------------------Anne Marie GiriWomen in Aikido: a place where us gals can come together and chat about aikido.